History of Webster, Massachusetts, USA

Journey back in time to Webster, Massachusetts, USA

• Webster was first settled in 1713
  and was officially incorporated on March 6, 1832. The area forming the town had previously been divided among the town of Dudley, the town of Oxford a...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• Jan 11, 1811 - Samuel Slater buys his first property in Webster.
  In 1811, in company with a young man named Bela Tiffany, Samuel Slater started a cotton factory at Oxford, now known as Webster. The property in 1817...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1831 - Webster - Slater Mills
  ...By 1831 this plant (owned by Samuel Slater) had increased to six thousand spindles and ninety loom, one hundred and eighty hands employed, and fift...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1832 - Webster set off from Oxford
  
  www.oxford300.com/ oxford_history.aspx
  
  
• 1835 - Samuel Slater Dies in Webster
  ...During his later years, Mr. Slater spent the greater part of his time at Webster, where he died April 21, 1835, in his sixty-seventh year. Through ...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1845 - WEBSTER. [Pop. 1,403. Inc. 1832.]
  This town was taken from Dudley and Oxford, and named in honor of Daniel Webster, the distinguished statesman of Massachusetts.
  
  Webster is ...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1848 - Webster
  This town was set off from Dudley and Oxford, and incorporated in 1832. it was named after the Hon. Daniel Webster. The surface of the town is rather ...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1854 - Webster
  Webster, a post-township in Worcester co., Massachusetts, intersected by the Norwich and Worcester railroad, 65 miles W. S. W. from Boston. The princi...Read MORE...
  
  
  
•  1858 - Shoe Business Flourishing
  The shoe business at Webster, Mass., has been in a very flourishing condition for the last few months, affording good wages and plenty of work for al...Read MORE...
  
  
  
•  1866 - Snake Prank
  In Webster, Mass., recently, some young man placed two small brown snakes in a kind of fancy paper basket, filled the opening with flowers so that the...Read MORE...
  
  
  
•  1878 - Large Fire At Webster, Mass.
  BOSTON, Feb. 12 - A fire broke out, this morning, in the calendering department of Samuel Slater & Sons' cambric works, at Webster, Mass., and entirel...Read MORE...
  
  
  
•  1884 - Walked to Webster from California
  Warren B. Johnson, aged sixty-five years, who left California on foot June 1, 1882, with a horse, cow and dog, arrived at his home in Webster, Massach...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• Webster Massachusetts, 1890
  "Webster lies in the southern part of Worcester County, 59 miles southwest of Boston, and 16 miles south of Worcester. French River washes its western...Read MORE...
  
  
  
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  September 17, 1890
  (MA) - Worcester Daily Spy, Worcester, Massachusetts
  
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  A busy scene on Main Street
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  Main Street, business section
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  Negus Street
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• 1895 - Webster
  Webster, a post-village in Webster township, Worcester co, Mass., on French River, and on the Norwich & Worcester Railroad, at the junction of two bra...Read MORE...
  
  
  
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  Point Breeze, postmarked 1910
  
  "Point Breeze, a lakeside resort, was purchased by Edgar Hill in 1897. The pavilion included a large dance hall."
  www.digitalcommonwealth.org
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•  1900 - SUICIDE WAS 105 YEARS OLD.
  Last Survivor of Nipunk Tribe Sets Her House on Fire and Dies Rather then Go to the Poorhouse.
  
  WEBSTER, Mass., Jan. 7. Investigation of the causes ...Read MORE...
  
  
  
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  N.Y., N.H. & H. Railroad Station
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  Soldiers Monument
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  The Thompson School
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  At Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagogg
  chaubunagungamaugg, Webster, Mass.
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  Post Office. Webster, Mass.
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  Beacon Park Theatre, Webster, Mass.
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  Boat Landing, Beacon Park, Webster, Mass.
  
  "Beacon Park, a lakeside resort, was built by Edgar Hill. The three-story main building is pictured, as are some canoes. At the boat landing is a steam-powered excursion boat that would ferry passengers... Read MORE...
  
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  Hotel DeWitt, Webster, Mass.
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  Indian Inn, Webster, Mass.
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  Point Pleasant, Webster, Mass.
  
  "Point Pleasant offered summer cottages along the shores of the lake. Pictured at the entrance is a large arched sign welcoming visitors. Signage is also visible for the store and ice cream... Read MORE...
  
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  A. J. Bates Shoe Factory. Webster, Mass.
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  Joslin House and Hotel Maanexit, Webster, Mass.
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  East Main St. Looking West, Webster, Mass.
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•  1901 - TROLLEY DEAL IN CONNECTICUT: New Haven Road Purchases the Webster and Worcester System.
  NEW HAVEN, Jan. 12 - The New Haven Road has just purchased through the People's Tramway Company of Danielson, Conn., the Webster and Worcester Street...Read MORE...
  
  
  
•  Wednesday, April 23, 1902 - Fire at Webster, Mass. - It Was so Hot That it Made the River Boil
  Webster, Mass. April 23 - John D. Putnam's box factory, adjacent to French river, burned last night. A large section of the factory fell into the riv...Read MORE...
  
  
  
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  Main Street, showing C. P. Davis clothing store, 1905
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  South Main Street, 1905
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• 1906
  Webster, a post-village in Webster township (town), Worcester co., Mass., on the French River and on the Boston and Albany and the New York, New Haven...Read MORE...
  
  
  
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  Cambric Works, S. Slater & Sons, Inc., East Webster, Mass.
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  East Webster Depot
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  Lake from Sugar Loaf Hill
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  Main Street, 1910
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  Old Rock Castle School, Prospect Street
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  Slater Woolen Mills
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  Stevens Linen Mill
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  1911 School St., Webster, MA
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  1912 Ad. George Feige worked as an electrician for his nephew, Charles W. Bergmann.
  (MA) - The Webster, Dudley and Oxford Directory 1912
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  Filmer School
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  Main Street
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  Main Street Looking South, 1915
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•  1920 - Webster, Mass., Mill Closes
  WEBSTER, Mass., Oct. 13 - The South Village Woolen and Worsted mill of the S. Slater & Sons, Inc., was closed indefinitely today, throwing out 2000 em...Read MORE...
  
  
  
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  Cottage, Bates Grove
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  Larcher Branch Building
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  The Slater Homestead, East Webster, Mass.
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  Bartlett High School
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• 1929 - Wired for "Talkies"
  Oct. 9 - The Liberty Theatre in Webster, a silent movie venue for several years, is wired for 'talkies.'
  (oldewebster.com)
  
  
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  St. Louis Church
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• 1933 - New Restaurant Opens
  Dec. 4 - John Parker opens a restaurant at 217 Main St., Webster. The special is fruit cocktail, juice, or soup; relish, turkey, roast beef, or lamb, ...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1940 - Railroad Abandoned
  April 11 - The New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Co. abandons its rail line from Webster to East Thompson, Conn.
  (oldewebster.com)
  
  
• 1955 - WESO On the Air
  March 20 - Radio Station WESO goes on the air for a first time. Announcers and newscasters are Bob Binet, John Bunnewith, Joe Capillo, Esther Costa, B...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1972 - Commerce Insurance Company
  July 1 - Commerce Insurance Company opens for business at the corner of Lake and Main Streets. 14 families poll their finances and raise a total of $2...Read MORE...
  
  
  
•  Lake with 45-letter name has spelling errors - The central Mass. lake has one of the world's longest place names
  WEBSTER, Mass. — Officials have agreed to correct spelling errors in road signs pointing to a central Massachusetts lake with a 45-letter name.
  
  Lak...Read MORE...